The origin of witchcraft remains unknown; however, it is believed that witches have existed since the beginning of humanity, passing down their knowledge and skills through generations of family lines. Contrary to popular belief, witches don't receive their magic from demons, nor do they worship the devil.
At some point, an unnamed witch with a "lava fetish" caused the Pompeii incident. Following this, Witches Council created the Other Realm Revenue Service to audit a witch's magic, as they have since only allowed witches a specific amount of magic in the Mortal Realm; prior to this event they were supposedly pretty lenient.[1] The
According to Hilda, the Witches Council also implemented strict copyright laws ever since the seventies when witches way over did the Gucci.[2]
Witches can be good or bad, just as with mortals. Several witches have displayed a condescending attitude towards mortals, thinking them inferior creatures. Some even display bigotry towards mortal/witch hybrids.
According to Zelda Spellman, sometimes when a witch really loves someone and can’t stop thinking about them, they literally see the object of their affection in other peoples faces.[3] According to Sabrina Spellman, when a witch perceives extraordinary danger, time may freeze so she can assess the situation and escape.[4]
Witches are more or less "human", and their physiology is only subtly different from that of ordinary mortals. When stressed, a witch may manifest warts, but they usually disappear after they have calmed down.[5] Interestingly, when a witch gets rid of their appendix, they’ll be mistake free; by going to Mistake School a witch can nullify these effects and return to normal.[6]
Witches seem to naturally age at a far slower rate than normal humans and thus they have a much longer life expectancy than mortals. For example, both @Hilda Spellman and @Zelda Spellman are over six centuries old, but only biologically appear to be in their late twenties to early thirties. Spells or potions can also be used to manipulate a witch's physical age.
@Sabrina Spellman is half-mortal and half-witch.
Witches can successfully breed with other species. The most prominent example being the offspring of a witch and a mortal. These hybrids possess the same magical powers their witchly heritage offers, but, due to being half-mortal, their powers don't manifest until their 16th birthday (whether or not this is the case with other witch hybrids is unknown); in reference to raw power, human/witch hybrids seem to be just as powerful as full-witches, however, due to receiving their powers later in life, they initially tend to be far less experienced in using their powers. These hybrids are somewhat resistant to certain magical afflictions common to witches, but can still be affected by mystical maladies to varying extents. According to @Zelda Spellman and @Sabrina Spellman half-mortal and half-witch hybrids can potentially live for centuries, but as they're half-mortal, they still suffer from some of the effects of human mortality (i.e. common colds or the consequences of breathing in high quantities of noxious secondhand smoke). All in all, Sabrina was often indistinguishable from a full-witch and several full-witches.
Depending on their level of skill, witches possess a number of magical abilities. By joining together, witches can increase their magical strength and achieve feats a single witch can't. Among their many supernatural talents are:
Spell Casting: Witches can cast spells, invoking some sort of magical effect such as:
Charms: Spells that alter an object's inherent qualities (i.e. its behavior and capabilities). For example, a spell to levitate an object or change its color can be considered a charm.
Transfiguration: Spells of this nature alter an object's form or appearance. Skilled witches can turn themselves into fire, water, and wind.
Conjuration: Spells that magically create objects out of nothingness. Such spells can also be used to conjure the elements (e.g. a storm, fire, water, etc.).
Hexes and Jinxes: Spells such as these affect an object or person in a negative manner; jinxes are amusing, almost playful, spells whose effects are irritating and only cause minor inconvenience to the target, while hexes cause major inconvenience to the target.
Curses: Truly malevolent acts of magic, whose intent is to affect the target in a strongly negative manner.
Molecular Transference: A magical form of transportation, through which a witch can disappear from one location and reappear in another. Similarly, a witch can magically transport an object or even other beings from one place to another.
Levitation: Witches can defy gravity and float a few feet in the air. Sabrina Spellman was known to float a few feet when she slept.
Potion Brewing: Witches can brew and concoct potions, liquids that have been magically enhanced to possess supernatural properties. It has been stated and confirmed that even when a witch's magic is neutralized, they can still brew potions for a specific effect.
Supernatural Longevity: Witches are extremely long-lived, aging at an especially slow rate; while @Zelda Spellman and @Hilda Spellman appear to be young women, they're actually hundreds of years old. Most likely their delay in aging doesn't occur until a witch reaches adulthood. According to @Zelda Spellman , witches live so long that they go through several will’s just to thin out all the things they tend to accumulate.
Astrological and Atmospheric Phenomenon: Certain atmospheric and even astrological phenomena can impose limitations or unusual side-effects on a witch's magic. For example, due to not being accustomed to the atmospheric conditions, @Sabrina Spellman 's powers were temporarily knocked-out by the high altitude when she traveled up a beanstalk to save her then boyfriend @Harvey Kinkle When Sabrina conjured a storm and a lightning bolt knocked her unconscious, after she regained consciousness her powers were temporarily gone. Sunspots are also known to cause molecular instability in witches. @Zelda Spellman claimed that if Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune were to align in the ninth parallel of the seventh quadrant, witches would lose all their powers for the duration of the astrological event.
Bermuda Triangle: A witch's magic doesn't work in the Bermuda Triangle, however, their every wish comes true. The only stipulation is that a witch can only make one wish at a time and cannot make another wish until their previous wish is fulfilled.
Distraction: Preventing a witch from concentrating or giving full attention to their spells, may render them ineffective.
Emotions: A witch’s emotional state can influence their magical abilities and their powers can fluctuate accordingly. According to @Zelda Spellman , strong emotions such as stress can "short" a witch's finger and thus prevent them from properly accessing their powers. Furthermore, a witch's motivation can also influence the potency of there spells, seeing as how Sabrina could not reverse her aunt Irma's spell on just for the sake of breaking it, but @Harvey Kinkle was able to use Sabrina's own magic to break Irma's spell because he was trying to make Sabrina happy.
Lava: According to @Zelda Spellman , lava is the only substance that can destroy a witch.
Laws and Regulations: Witches are also limited by spells and officiated laws imposed by the Witches Council. These spells, most likely cast as a collective, seem to alter or regulate the way witchcraft is accessed or practiced. Breaking the decrees set forth by the Witches Council can result in punishments ranging from banishment to minor fines. Some spells cannot be used until a witch obtains a Witch's License.
Magic: Witches are still susceptible to the powers of magic. This is inclusive of mystical objects such as the Star of Orion.Witches can seal their spells, preventing other witches from tampering with or altering their spells. Despite this, a witch may still impose other spells to circumvent their will. Failure to regularly exercise their witchcraft can cause a witch's magic to become pent up and manifest itself spontaneously regardless of a witch's intent.
Mystical Ailments: Witches can suffer from several cases of magical illnesses or afflictions that can be mystically debilitating to their craft or well-being. Normally after an accurate diagnosis of their condition, a witch can be properly treated, and return to full-power and vigor.
Physical Impediments: A witch cannot perform certain acts of magic should their hands be incapacitated in any way. Depending on how a witch works their craft, should their pointer finger(s) be broken, sprained, removed, or have a hang-nail, said witch would be rendered powerless until their finger was restored. Despite this, a witch can still brew potions to achieve a multitude of effects.
Plastic #7: Number seven plastic repeals magic. When Sabrina broke her biosphere for school, her magic had no effect when she tried to fix it as her project was made out of number seven plastic.
Overexertion: Overuse of a witch's magic can deplete their reserves; the only way to restore their waning powers is an extended period of rest. A witch's finger can suffer jet-lag, although it wears off after a few hours.
Witch Hunters: A very small amount of mortals are born with the witch-hunting gene that makes them want to ferret out witches. They can unknowingly sense magic and seem to have an innate distaste for witches. Should a witch inadvertently reveal themselves to a witch-hunter, they are turned into a mouse for a hundred years.